Sample-case.



A. W. WERMERSKIRGHEN.

SAMPLE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1911.

1,013,576. I Patented Jan.2,1912.

O W1tnesses: 'r I A f/ COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH c0.. \r \MHNGTON. n. :4

ANTHONY W. WERMERSKIRCHEN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAMPLE-CASE Patented J an. 2,1912. Serial No. 643,588.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY IV. WER- MERSKIROHEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of 'Cook and State of Illinois, have invented able others skilled in the art to which said invention appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has general reference to sample cases, and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is the production of an eflicient, serviceable, convenient, and very attractive device for permanently binding, for exhibition purposes, samples of various kinds, such as photographs, works of the graphic arts, ewelry, and other small articles, but especially samples of various kinds of wood to show the nature and grain thereof, and the various finishes, polishes, lusters, and stains that can be applied thereto or produced thereon, whereby manufacturers of articles of wood, and manufacturers of varnishes, stains, wood fillers, and other liquid products can combine to exhibit'their wares, or the results obtained by the use of their wares, at a considerable less expense than when each manufacturer does so individually' In the drawings already mentioned, which serve to illustrate this invention more fully, Figure 1 is a perspective view of this device, the case being shown in open condition, and several of the leaves or panels upturned. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case when closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3 y, of Fig. 5, the leaves or panels being shown in side view, details of construction of these leaves or panels being omitted. Fig. 4; is a similar view on a slightly larger scale, showing the details of construction of one of the panels, the other panels being removed from the case. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line av 00 of Fig. 8, in the direction of the arrows shown. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the members in which the leaves or panels are pivoted.

Like symbols and characters of reference designate the same parts in all the figures.

This sample retaining and exhibiting case comprises a base-board A, of proper width andlength to accommodate the article or articles to be retained for exhibition purposes. Upon this base, and at the longitudinal margins thereof, and extending from one end of the base to past its middle, there are located upwardly extending side-members B, B, to which is pivoted a cover C, preferably by screws 12, or similarly effective means, said cover having an open end at its pivoted sides, the object of which is to sustain this cover in raised position, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The two side-members B, B, are connected, at their meal ends, by a rod D, to add stiffness to, and prevent the side-members from approachlng each other.

In the opposing flanks of these side-members there are inclined grooves 13, in which there are located pivot-receiving members E, E, one of which is illustrated detached 1n Flg. 6.

These pivot-receiving members E, E, are

preferably metallic bars, Ushaped in cross section, in the part 14 of which there are a series of round holes 15, which holes afford bearings for the endsmf rods 16, which ends form journals constructed to rotate in said apertures 15. To these rods 16 there are secured panels or leaves F, preferably by metallic clips 17, which clips are U-shaped in cross section, the parallel members of which embrace one end of said leaves F; means, such as small rivets, or indentures in said parallel members, being employed to hold the clips 17 to said leaves F. At the ends of the panels opposite those at which they are pivoted, there are, preferably metallic, bindings, 19, secured to the panels in the same manner as the clips. These binders 19, as well as the clips 17, in addition to their described functions, serve as separators to the panels F, to prevent them from rubbing or marring each other.

I now call attention to the spacing of the apertures 15 in the pivot-receiving members E, E. These pivot-receiving members are inclined to an angle of approximately 35 degrees to the plane of the base-board A, although a greater angle, say 45 degrees may be employed, and may, in some cases be preferable. The horizontal and the vertical distances from hole to hole is slightly in excess of the thickness of the panels, whereby these panels, which are preferably of" the same length, are in stepped relation, and may be placed in horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and partly in Fig. 1, and may be rotated through an angle of about 50 degrees, as illustrated in connec tion with two of the panels in Fig. 1.

- The cover G, as already described, has one open end, so that its back-margin 20, when the cover is tilted backward, strikes the backs of the side-members B, B, and thereby supports this cover C in open position.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention I construct the panels F of two thicknesses, 21, 22, of wood veneer, and also divide one or more, or all of the panels longitudinally into several parts, as illustrated in Fig. 1, at 23, 24, thereby enabling me to show, with say, seven panels, from 14 to 28 different kinds of wood, or diflerent kinds of finishes of said woods.

The lowermost section of the pivoted panels I prefer to form of a larger number of leaves of paper in book form, which book G,'is bound by, and pivoted to the pivotretaining members E, E, by the clip 17 in precisely the same manner as the panels F. The object of this book is to' serve as a means of imparting information as to the nature, quality, price, and method of manufacture of the articles exhibited; and in the present instance, this book contains descriptions of the methods and substances employed to produce the articles. In Fig. 1, one of the panels is marked with a reference-numeral, (4) serving as an identification mark; and the two sections 23, 24:, of the uppermost panel F shown in horizontal position, have different identification-marks, (5, 6,) which refer to pages in the book on which the article and such other information which it is desired to be conveyed, can be found. Thus marking each panel section with a different identification symbol or character, and placing this book Gr permanently in the case so that it cannot be mislaid or lost, is of considerable value since it enables the possessor of the sample case to fully inform himself of the quality, method of manufacture, and other peculiarities of the articles exhibited. By the employment of this sample case, a manufacturer of articles from wood, such as house trimmings, furniture, and other articles, and a manufacturer of paints, stains, wood-fillers, lacquers, varnishes and polishes, may combine to show their products jointly at considerable less expense and of greater advantages than what each manufacturer would have to incur separately to secure the same commercial results.

It is obvious that photographs, works of art produced by the graphic arts, samples of cloth, and other articles may be bound back-to-back in panel form and permanently retained in this sample case, and that as a matter of fact, this sample case will lend itself to various other uses which will readily suggest themselves to persons connected with various classes of merchandise. The side members B, B, in addition to being means to retain the pivot-retaining members E, E, in position, serve as guides to the cover C, in an obvious manner.

I have heretofore stated that the panels F are permanently retained in the case. This is, however, only relatively thus, since the construction permits of the removal of the panels and of replacing them or others in place thereof, inasmuch as the pivotretaining members B, B, which are tightly inserted in the inclined grooves 13, may be pulled out of the same and separated from the panels and readily reinserted therein, and this result can be accomplished by temporarily removing the cover C from the case. By reason of the panels F being in stepped relation, they can be readily lifted, one after the other, and placed in substantially vertical position, so that the back of the lifted one and the face of the uppermost horizontal panel are always in plain view for inspection.

If desired, a wall 26, indicated in dotted line in Fig. 3, may connect the side members B, B, whereby the case is made dust-proof and therefore, the panels protected when the cover is closed.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States, the following claims 1. A sample case, comprising, in combination, a base, side members projecting from said base, there being in the opposing flanks of said side members upwardly and rearwardly extending grooves, pivot-retaining members removably secured in said grooves, said pivot-retaining members having a plurality of spaced bearings, and a multiplicity of superposed panels, each panel having at its end laterally projecting journals constructed to engage the respective pair of hearings in said pivot-retaining members.

2. A sample case, comprising, in combination, a base, side members at one end of, and projecting upwardly from said base, there being in the opposing flanks of said side members rearwardly inclined grooves, pivotretaining members removably secured in said grooves, said pivot retaining members having a multiplicity of stepped apertures constructed to afford bearings, a series of panels, said panels having each at one end laterally projecting pivots constructed to engage the proper bearings in said pivot-retaining members, said panels, when in horizontal position, being stepped, as described.

3. A sample case, comprising, in combination, a base, side members at one end of, and projecting upwardly from said base, there being in the opposing flanks of said side members rearwardly inclined grooves, pivot-retaining members in said grooves, said pivot-retaining members having a series of stepped apertures affording bearings, a series of panels upon said base between said side members, said panels having at one end laterally projecting pivots constructed to engage the proper apertures in said pivot-retaining members, and a cover pivotally connected at one end to said side members and constructed to fold over and cover said panels, as described.

4. A sample case, including, in combina tion, a base, side members at one end and projecting upwardly from said base, pivotretaining members in said side members, said pivot-retaining members having a series of bearings, a series of panels pivoted at one end in said pivot-retaining members, and a cover pivoted at one end to said side members, one of said panels being in book form, there being on each of the other panels identification marks, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTHONY W. WERMERSKIRCHEN,

WVitnesses:

MICHAEL J. STARK, A. G. PETERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

